Chile sales rising

15 January 2004

Local cement deliveries in Chile grew 4.6 per cent in 2003 to 3.62Mt, according to a report by local financial firm CB Capitales. The figures are the highest since 1998 (3.85Mt) as the country's economic crisis negatively impacted the sector in the following years, said the report, adding that the sector's recovery is due to large-scale infrastructure projects under construction in the country. Cementos Bio Bio, controlled by local group Briones, increased its deliveries in 2003 8.5 per cent; Cementos Melon, controlled by France's Lafarge, increased deliveries 4.2 per cent; and Cemento Polpaico, a subsidiary of Switzerland's Holcim, 2.1 per cent. Regarding market share, Melon kept the top position with a 36.4 per cent market share, followed by Polpaico with 35.2 per cent and Bio Bio with 28.4 per cent.